How do we see who is civilized and who isn’t depends on our background and mainly on our knowledge or rather the lack of it.
In this eye opening lecture, Yvonne Haddad a PhD historian and scholar of Christian-Muslim relations, speaks about the history of Western stereotypes of Arabs and Muslims.
From a personal story to a more general historical observation, she explains the roots of stereotyping the “others” and describes the dangers it leads to.
She was once told “ that the one who civilized her, did a good job !”. Which lead her to reflect upon why would someone who was educated, say such offending comment?
Listen to her thinking and understanding of systematic simplified conceptions about “others”.
With clear examples, she details how Arabs and Muslims went from barbaric camel jockeys, to petrol Kings, then from enemies to the evil that has to be exterminated.
She says something very important: “An enemy is somebody you fight […] and you may make peace with them. But evil is something you have to eradicate no matter your religion is, because your God told you to eradicate evil.”
Here lie many explanations of racist and violent behavior towards colored people, Muslims or other different faiths and ethnicity.
The post Understanding the Roots of Stereotypes of Arabs and Muslims in America appeared first on About Islam.
source https://aboutislam.net/multimedia/videos/understanding-roots-stereotypes-arabs-muslims-america/
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